'Heart and soul of this team': Why veteran Isaac Likekele is Oklahoma State's most important player

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State guard Isaac Likekele freely admits last season was far from his best.

He missed six games due to injuries. His scoring took a dip. His role changed as Cade Cunningham shined and other young players blossomed.

And mentally, Likekele struggled with it all.

The overpowering two-way guard was nearly lost.

“I wasn’t just there,” Likekele said in the preseason. “I was focused on a bunch of other things and different things that affected me on the court.”

So, Likekele refocused in the offseason. He shed 15 pounds or so.

Finally, that showed this week.

In his best performance since his sophomore season, Likekele looked like the dominant leader in Tuesday’s loss to Kansas. He had his first double-double since March 7, 2020.

“That’s what we need from him,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said.

Carlson: The NCAA's postseason ban on OSU looked bad from the start — but here's why it looks even worse now

As the Cowboys aim to work their way out of a slump, they’re turning to their unquestioned leader when they host No. 14-ranked Texas at 1 p.m. Saturday. Likekele is again the catalyst and most important player on the court.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior has to be for the Cowboys (7-5, 0-1 Big 12) to have any kind of success in a season with just 17 games remaining and no postseason opportunities.

“He’s the heart and soul of this team,” OSU sophomore forward Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe said.

Two years ago, Likekele was off to a roaring start. In seven games, he was becoming one of the better two-way stars in the country.

Then, he got an illness. He was never the same until late in the season. In the Big 12 Tournament opener — as the world shut down with COVID-19 — he hit the game-winning layup.

Boynton still calls the play — a coast-to-coast layup as time ticks down — an “Ice-like play.”

Last season, those moments were infrequent.

'An Achilles' heel for us': OSU's defense shows potential, offense struggles in loss to Kansas

Cunningham was the ultimate finisher and superstar. Likekele welcomed him, but it meant a role change.

Transfer guard Bryce Williams found a rhythm that Likekele aimed to honor.

Avery Anderson III also broke out as a scorer. So, Likekele made sure Anderson kept rolling.

Yet, even with everyone else improving, Likekele remained the focus of opponents’ gameplans.

“We kinda figured he was the leader of the group,” OSU transfer forward Tyreek Smith said of the gameplan last season with Texas Tech. “We just had to try to contain him, because he did everything.”

Likekele entered this season determined to atone for last season.

He’s still dealt with more than his play. He was the voice of the team when the NCAA appeal was denied, ruling the Cowboys ineligible for the postseason.

He’s been the leader on and off the floor, too.

“Sometimes, he be sounding like a coach,” Smith said. “As a college player, it’s impressive.”

But at times, Likekele appears hesitant as he integrates transfers Bryce Thompson and Moussa Cisse into the offense.

Boynton often urges Likekele to be more aggressive with the basketball.

'I'm in a great spot': How Kansas' Jeremy Case rose from McAlester to Jayhawks assistant

“He feels like he needs to try to get those guys shots and get them involved,” Boynton said, “and I just tell him, ‘In transition, you gotta be the hammer.’”

Likekele was unquestionably a force Tuesday.

He made 7 of 15 shots, tying a career best for shot attempts, a stat that surprised even Likekele in postgame. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Everything flowed through him. He sparked the defensive run that kept Kansas scoreless for nearly 10 minutes. He kept the Cowboys in the game.

Likekele attributed it to realizing his team needed him. But he also knows his college career is winding down.

“This is my last time, so I gotta be aggressive,” Likekele said. “Not every night’s going to be 15 attempts. That’s not me saying I’m going to go out there and try to shoot every shot that I can get, but I have to look to make plays for this team.”

Perhaps, that’s how the Cowboys find their way.

Time is quickly running out.

“Hopefully, he can build on that and then we get the other guys coming along more consistently,” Boynton said. “And then we can see what this team was built to come.”

Jacob Unruh covers college sports for The Oklahoman. You can send your story ideas to him at junruh@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

OSU vs. No. 14 Texas

TIPOFF: 1 p.m. Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater (CBS)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU men's basketball: Why Isaac Likekele is most important player